Living in an apartment, you don’t have to worry about maintenance and home improvement projects the way most homeowners do. As a result, there is no need (and probably no space) to have a fully equipped tool bench in your apartment. Still, there are some tools you should definitely have on hand.
If you’re taking inventory and want to ensure your’e stocked with the essentials, make sure you have following tools.
Hammer and Nails
Essential for hanging art, photos, and mirrors in your apartment, a hammer and box nails deserve space in your toolkit. To better equip yourself for a range of DIY projects and repairs, keep nails of various sizes on hand.
Allen Wrenches
Often required for furniture assembly and repair, Allen wrenches also come in handy for a number of automotive, electrical, and plumbing applications. Invest in a 10- or 12-size set, and you should be able to fasten or release just about any nut or screw in your apartment. An adjustable wrench is another tool that’s nice to have on hand.
Level
Without a level, evenly hanging framed photos and artwork can be frustrating and time-consuming. A level quickly informs you when the top and bottom of a frame are parallel to the ground, making it easy to hang art in your home like a professional. If you’re keen to try digital handyman tools, a level is one of a few essentials that can be downloaded as a smartphone app.
Step Stool
A folding step stool takes up little space, and it makes changing light bulbs, dusting the tops of cupboards, and reaching items stored on the highest shelves in your closet not only possible, but easy.
Pliers
If you’re into DIY crafts such as jewelry making or like to build and repair electronics on your own, a pair of needle-nose pliers can make your work much easier. If you’re going to invest in a second pair of pliers, slip-joint pliers are also nice to have on hand. Slip-joint pliers are helpful for loosening and tightening nuts, and are necessary for bicycle maintenance and most furniture repairs.
Drivers and Drills
Pretty much anytime you need to assemble or disassemble something in your apartment, you’ll need one kind of screwdriver or another. To prepare yourself for any project that comes your way, add a set of phillips and flat-head screwdrivers to your apartment tool kit. A cordless drill, helpful for drilling holes, driving screws into the wall, and removing screws as quick and easy as possible, will also come in handy.
Heavy Duty Flashlight
Inexpensive and easy to find, a good, heavy duty flashlight probably isn’t the first tool you’d think of, but trust us when we say, it’ll come in handy!
Measuring Tape
If you don’t already have at least one measuring tape in your apartment, add one to the list of tools you need to pick up on your next visit to the hardware store. You’ll be surprised how much you’ll need one whether it’s sizing up a room or making sure your pictures are all at the same height.
Tool Bag
Living in an apartment, you may not have space for a workbench of your own. Highly portable, a well-designed tool bag is ideal for storing and transporting the tools you use most. Features to look for include numerous pockets of various shapes and sizes and removable hardware organizers.
Pick up whatever tools from this list you don’t already have, and you’ll be well on your way to completing your apartment tool kit. Craft making, apartment decorating, and basic repairs are so much easier when you have the essentials on hand.
As an apartment dweller, what tools do you think are absolutely essential to have on hand?
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View All Posts by Jason Ernst